Within the next two years, ten per cent of the country’s electricity will come from renewable resources. According to Public Utilities Minister Robert Le Hunte by 2021 T&T must become more dependent on renewable energy because of the United Nations (UN) Paris Agreement for the lowering of greenhouse gas emissions.
T&T became a signatory to the Agreement when Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis deposited the instrument of ratification on February 22, 2018, at headquarters in New York.
Le Hunte said the Government is committed to sticking to the terms of the Paris Agreement which calls for a global effort to lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to reduce the effects of global warming and to adapt to the effects of global warming and climate change.
Last week, Costa Rica announced it would be the first nation in the world to be carbon neutral by 2021. One of the most influential factors in their carbon status is that 98 per cent of their electricity comes from renewables like hydropower, wind, solar, geothermal and biomass. In fact, the only fossil fuel used by Costa Ricans is diesel.
But the reality in T&T is much different. According to the World Bank, as of 2014 T&T used 7,134.03 kilowatts per hour (kWh) per capita. Compared to much larger nations like Venezuela, with a per capita consumption of 2,657.62 kWh, and Suriname with a per capita consumption of 3,631.86 kWh, local energy use is staggering.
Cheaper electricity to blame
According to a 2017 report by the Energy Chamber, the gas boom and low electricity prices account for the high rate of electricity consumption in T&T. It was part of a four-part series, Understanding the Electricity Subsidy in Trinidad & Tobago, by the chairman of Energy Efficiency and Alternative Energy, Christopher Narine Thomas.
Thomas said 43 per cent of all of the 400,000 households using electricity is wasting it and he blamed this on the state’s electricity subsidy.
“Numerous studies have shown that subsidies lead to wasteful behaviours and T&T is no different. Despite having three consumption categories at various prices, roughly 43 per cent of all households in the country fell in the highest usage category of >1000kwh. In addition, the average bi-monthly consumption of these households in 2015 was roughly 2100kwh,” he wrote.
He compared T&T’s consumption with that of North America, saying: “Comparing this level of consumption to other regions highlights a startling reality; 43 per cent of homes in Trinidad and Tobago have a consumption level that is on par with the average North American home, twice that of the average European home and three times the global average. Moreover, 70 per cent of all residential power in Trinidad and Tobago is consumed by this 43 per cent which to some extent illustrates the level of income inequality in the country.”
He said in most cases, a higher standard of living accounted for greater consumption as citizens are able to purchase large appliances without much consideration for how much electricity those appliances use.
“Over the last 15 years, during what some now term the gas boom, the standard of living and levels of income in Trinidad improved greatly and so did our electricity consumption. However, for many of us the decision to purchase new A/C units, clothes dryers, water heaters, dishwashers and appliances may have been done in the absence of energy efficiency considerations. More importantly, low electricity prices result in the population giving less critical thought to overall energy consumption, regardless of whether or not appliances are energy efficient.”
Le Hunte: RFPs sent
out for renewable energy
Le Hunte said the Government is looking toward using renewable sources of energy as it tries to stick to the Paris Agreement. He said Requests for Proposals (RFPs) were put out by the Ministry of Energy and will close on June 28. So far, the state has received a very promising response to the RFPs.
“We are looking at renewables, that’s for sure. The RFPs have gotten a lot of good interest and when it closes on June 28, we will have to evaluate all the proposals and make a decision,” he said.
“We are also committed, under the Paris accord, to add ten per cent of our supply in renewable by 2021.”
The minister was unable to say what type of renewable energy would be utilised to account for this ten per cent as bids will have to be evaluated and weighed against each other.
He said with T&T’s current power purchase agreements (PPA), or electricity power agreement, the country produces more electricity than it consumes.
“When comparing Trinidad and Tobago with other countries, we have to remember we have extra energy that is not being used. PPAs were prepared when we were looking at introducing the smelter plant so whereas other countries are now trying to meet their existing demands, we have extra.”
The state has PPAs with five entities including the Union Estate Power Station which is state-owned. The T&T Electricity Commission (T&TEC) owns two—the Scarborough Power Station and the Cove Power Station. The other two are Trinity Power Limited and Powergen’s Penal and Point Lisas plants.
Le Hunte said Government will go slow with renewable energy because of the current excess on the market.
“As we bring more energy on stream, we need to manage the desire to bring more electricity on the grid versus what is presently there and if you don’t have demand for it, you will be paying for something that you can’t use. There will be a balancing act, there is a cost to bring on new PPAs which you do not have the demand for.”
Le Hunte said another way to curb emissions from electricity is for ordinary citizens to practice energy conservation.
“Energy conservation will reduce the use of energy because we will burn less natural gas to produce and if you are burning less natural gas, you are putting fewer emissions in the air. Getting people to use energy more efficiently could also help in reducing the carbon footprint. We have to look at it from both sides, energy conservation and renewables but whatever we do, we have to be cognisant of our current excess of electricity.”
